Metal-bending machine



Oct, 16, 1928.

Filed Jan. 7, 19

J. J. MULLEN ET AL METAL BENDING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1,687,988 J. J. MULLEN ET AL METAL BENDING MACHINE Filed Jan. v, 1927 2v sheets-sheet 2 @et l5, 1928.

U N ITED STA'T ES 1,687,988 PATENT OFFICE;

JAMES J. MULLEN AND FRANCIS M. STAMBAUGH, 0F SAT. LOUIS,. MISSOURI; SAID' STAMBAUGH ASSIGNOR TO SID .lvIUIiLEIN.`

METAL-Banniere MACrinvia'.Y

Application filedv January 7, 1927; Serial No. 159,589.

rllhis invention relates tometaly bending machines.

One object oi: the invention is to provide a practicable machine otV novel construction for bending or folding a sheet metal plate Yso as to produce a 'corrugation orv hollow rib on the plate provided with a closed end.

or closed ends. V

Another object iss-to provide a machine ot novel construction that will produce symmetrical corrugati'ons or hollowv ribs on a .metal plate, provided with closed ends that terminate within the marginal edges of the plate.A Other objects and desirable features of the invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

Figure l of the drawings is an end elerational view oi" our improved machine, showing the head of the-machine in ,its raised position. A

Figure 2 is 'an end elevationalv view, showing the head of thel machine depressed.

Figure 3 is av side elevational view oli the machine showing the head raised.

Figure l is an enlarged verticalv transverse sectional view., showing the male die member arranged in operative relationship with the iiemale die members.

Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views illust-rating one form of sheet metal plate on which the machine is adapted to operatey when the n'rachine is used to produce a sheet metal member or article equipped ywith aV plurality ot' corrugations or hollow ribs provided with closed ends, and arranged in parallel relation between" abutting end sections of the plate that constitute end rims Jfor the article. l

Figure 7 is a shown in AFigures 5 and 6, after said plate has been benty or folded to produce corrugations thereon; and Y Figures tl and 9 are der. views, illustrathow the male and "eniale die members limited to a machine designed for thisparperspective view ot the platek rions or hollow ribs. that have closed ticular purpose,-` as one important feature of our invention consists of a novel' means or mechanism for forming a corrugation on a metal: plate, that extends throughout the entire length of the plate or only part way the length of the plate. Vhen the machine is used for producing a. sheetmetal member or" article provided with a plurality of corrugations or hollow'v ribs that have closed A V ends which terminate within the marginalV Aedges'of the 'plate .trom which the article is constructed, it is necessary-to form longitudinally aligned notches 1 1n the opposite ends of the plate, prior to introducing thek `plate into the machine to bend or foldfit so as to produce corrugations thereon. The end or ends'oi said corrugations are closed by portions 2 of the plate lying at the inner ends 4ot the notches l, said portions 2 being bent or shaped prior to the operation of arranging the plateY in the machine or while the plate is being bent to produce the ribs or corrugations lVhen a'. plate provided with pre-formed, angularlyedisposed f portions 2 is used in thel machine, the intermediate'.portions of the plate lying between the longitudinally-aligned end' notches l will be bent or folded progressively so asto produce corrugationsy or hollow ribs I3 Yont-he platerthat terminate some distance inwardly from the ends of the plate and the angularly-disposed portions 2 ofthe plate will' be moved into abutting 'relationship so asfto form jend closures for the corruf gations. v n p Beferringto the drawings which illustrate the preferred( form ofY the invention, A. designates a vertically-reciprocating head that moves towards vand away from. a sta# tionary baseY plate'B, said head andv basel vplate having die membersmounted on same -wnich co-operate with each other at leach downward fstrolievoi the head to bend or rfold the plate so'as. to produce a longitudinally-disposed corrugation orhollow rib on the plate. g The cooperating members roe llo

wardly, said female die members D will rock inwardly and exert pressure on the plate in such a manner as to bend or told the plate over the mandrel C, and thus produce a corrugation in the plate that conforms to the shape and dimensions of said mandrel, the roclrable 'female die members D finally coming to rest in the position shown inFigure fl, wherein it will be seen that they virtually form a temale die inside ot which the mandrel C isarranged at the termination oi' the Jtolding operation. Cn Vthe succeeding upward stroke ot the head A of the machine the roclrable female die members D swing outwardly out oft engagement with the corrugation just formed, and the n ale die member or mandrel C withdraws from the corrugation,

thereby permitting the plate to be ied for- 20 wardly so as to bring into operative position the neXt portion of the plate which is to be bent or :t'olded to produce a corrugation. In the machine herein shown the male die member C consists of a relatively long, straight element ot substantially wedge shape in transverse cross section, and the female die members D consist oit rockable wings or arms that are adapted to embrace said male die members, but said members can be of various shapes. dependingupon the shape ot' the corrugations that are to be formed in the plate.

Vhen the head of the machine is in its raised position, as shown in Figures l and 3, the plate a: is sustained by a work support formed by horizontally-disposed members E arranged at opposite sides of the mandrel C and supported by springs F Y which hold the top surface ot said members E iiush or substantially so with the top edge of the mandrel C. During the iirst portion of the downward movement of the head A of Vthe machine the female die members D remain separated or in the position shown kin Figure l, but after the inner edges 4 at the lower ends ot said members nave engaged the plate, said members D start to swing inwardly, thereby exerting' pressure on the plate in a direction tending to. clamp it firmly against the work sustaining members E and also to bend the plate downward-A ly over the mandrel C which exerts upward pressure on the underside ot the plate, at about the time the female die members D start to swing inwardly. During' the remainder of the downward stroke ot the head A ot the machine the female die members D continue to swing inwardly towards the mandrel C, and at about the time the head A has reached the end voiE its downward stroke, the plate will have been bent or folded over the mandrel C, thereby producing a corrugation or hollowfrib on the plate that conforms to the cross-sectional shape or the mandrel.l The springs F which support the work sustaining members E are ot 'such tension that they will permit said members E to recede or move downwardly under the influence of the downward pressure which the female die members D exert on the plate, but said springs are made strong enough to insure the plate being clam )ed tio'htl .a t7 l C y chine moves upwardly, the female die memi bers D swing outwardly out ot engagement with .the corrugation von the plate, and the work sustaining members .E move upwardlyunder the influence ot the springs F, and thus strip the plate from the mandrel C.

In the machine herein illustrated the internal mandrel or male die member C is carried by the base plate- B of the machine and the rcclrable female die members D are carried by the reciprocating head A et the machine, so as to prevent scale or dirt yfrom collecting in su'liicient quantities in the cavity between the .female die membersD to interfere with the operation of the machine, but this is not essential, tor'if desired, the rockable 'female die members D can `be carried by the base ot the machine and the male die member or internal mandrel C canbe carried by the reciprocating head ot the machine.

The notches l in the ends of the plate m are ot such width that in the operation kot folding or bending the plate to produce a corrugation thereon, the adjacent sections 3 at the ends of the plate lying at opposite sides of the two notches which are in longitudinal alignment with the portion of the plate that is beingv folded., will move into abutting relationship, and thus co-operate to produce plain or uncorrugated portions at the ends oit the plate which lie beyond the ends of the corrugation. The angularlydisposed portions 2 on the plate, previously referred to, are valso proportioned and arranged so that in the operation ot folding or bending the plate to produce a corrugation the two angularly.-disposed portions 2 at each. end ot the part ot the plate that is being folded will move into abutting relationship, and thus 'form closures tor the ends of the corrugation.

It is important that the abutting end sections 3 ot' the plate lie in the same'horizontal plane so that the edges ot same will butt together, and it is also important that each pair ot angularly-disposed portions 2 on the plate .that constitute an end closure for a corrugat-ion will be vaccurately aligned or butted together at the completionV ot the folding operation so that when the joints between said parts are closed or seamed by GSi ` a soldering, brazing or welding operation, ythe closed ends of the corrugation will be symmetrical andy will merge into the portions of the plate which lie beyond the endsr of the corrugation. Accordingly, we prefer to arrange pressing' devices@ at the ends of the female die members Dwhich are constructed so that they vill engage the angularly-disposed portions 2 of the plate and' press them against the ends of the mandrel C, and will also engage the' abutting end sections?) of the plate and press them downwardly against stationary anvils H during the last. portion of the downward stroke of theV head A of the machine, said pressing' devices G, operating to inpart the final shape to the portions 2 of the'plate that con.

stitute end closures for' the corrugation and also causing' the co-operating abutting end sections 3 of the plate to be brought into accurate alignment with each other. As shown in Figure 3, the anvils- H are arranged so that they Vlie in the same horizontal plane asthe work sustr-.ini-ng members E after said members E have been moved downwardly by the pressi "e exerted on the same by the female die membersl carriedv by the head of the machine.

The rockable female die members D can be constructed and operated in various ways1 but inthe machine herein illustrated said members are provided at their upper enos with longitudinally-disposed knuckles 5 that rock or oscillate in bearings v(i vwhich are detachably connected to members 7 carried by the reciproca'tin,er head ofthe machine.

'At one or bothA ends-of each of the rockable die members D upwardly-projecting arms 8 are attached to said members, said arms eing equipped with rollers 9 that co-operate.

with stationary wedge or cam l() to cause i the die members D to swing` inwardlywhen the head la of the machine moves downlhen the head a is in its elevated asshown inV gure l, the rollers arms V8 are n eld pressedv together by *i ll attached to the die members l), Dur a the first portion of the downward stroke of the head, i. Vprior to thev time the inner1 edges 4 the lower vends ofv the female. die -membe l) the plate` said niemhers r 1 ,r their separated position` shown in ,Qure l portionof the downward movementof the head, the upper end of the wedQG l0r passes upward-ly between the rollers 9, and thus rocks the arms 8 in a direction to move the die meml'isrs Dinwardly into the position shown in Figure 2. Nh en the head moves upwarlly the diefmembers l) swing out*` wa dlvv out engagement with the corrugatiou that hasV liustbeen formed under the intluenee of the springs 1l, Vand the springs F expand and move the Work sustaining members E upwardly, thereby stripping the between the female die. members.

l.. butin the,succeedingV corrugation from the mandrel C. order that the time of operation or therockable die members D may be accurately controlled or regulated, the wedge l0 is mounted: on the base portion B of the machine in such a way that it lcan beraised or lowered.l the machine herein illustrated beingv provided with a holder l2 in which the wedge l() is vertically adjustable. Y n Y One' feature of our invention which webelieve to be novel, is a sheet metal corrugatedapparatus `composed of an internal mandrel or male die member fl a pair of co-operating ro'ckable or oscillatingl-y mounted female die members, combined. in such a way that the inward movement of said female die memberstowardsv the male die member, and* it the marie die member to enter .the cavity So far as this featureof our invention 1s concerned it is immaterial' whether 'it is embodied in avided with close/d ends, however, it is'preferably to add to same a means, such as` the pressing devices G and anvijls H that will bend or impart the final shape to portions ofthe plate' that constitutes` end closures for the corrunationland also Aflatten'down or line.

up the divided endf-sectionsfof the plate' 'locatedbeyond the ends of the 'corrugations lith Havingthusdescribed: our invent-ion, what we claiml as new and desire `to secure by Letters VPatent is: n

l.; A metal bindingr machine for'progfres sively bending a platev toV` form hollow ribs or corrugations thereon said mach-ine comprisinygr a work support that adapted to sustaina fiat plate, a male die member that is adapted tov engage the side of the platey the plate over the male die member while portions of the plate are frictionally engaged by the work support and the female die members.

2. A metal bending machine, comprising a pair of female die members andan op posed male die member shaped so as to cooperate with each other to progressively bend or fold a flat plate to produce corrugations thereon, means for producing relative reciprocating movement between said male die member and female die members to produce an initial bend or fold in the plate positioned between said male member' and female members, means for moving the female die members inwardly7 or towards each other during said relative reciprocating movement so as to complete the bend or fold in the plate, and means for causing the plate to exert sufficient frictional pressure on the ends of said female die members during the inward movement of said members to prevent the plate from buckling.

Vinward movement of said female die members, arranged to yield or move in a direction to permit the male die member to enter the cavity between said female die members.

4. A. metal bending machine, comprising` a yielding work engaging means that is adapted to contact with one side of a flat plate that is to be bent to form corrngation thereon, a pair of rockable female die engaging members adapted to engagethe opposite side of the plate and press it against said means, means for producing relative reciprocating movement between said female die members and said work engaging means, internal mandrel arranged stationary with respect to said work engaging means, with its upper end positioned flush or substantially so with the plate supporting surface of said means at the beginning of the cvele of operations of the machine, said mandrel, being adapted to co-operate with said female die members to forni an initial bend in the plate, and means for rocking said female die members during said relative reciprocating movement.

A metal bending machine for progressively forming corrugations in a flat metal plate, comprising a reciprocating head, a

stationary base, a male die lmember carried adapted to swing inwardly towards said male die member to bend or fold the plate over said male die member, yielding work engaging devices arranged adjacent said male die member and adapted to hold the plate in a horizontal position and clamped against the ends of said female die members during the inward movementof same, and means for rocking said female die members inwardly when said head is moved towards said base.

6. rfimetal'bending machine, comprising a reciprocating head, a stationary base, a male die member carried by said base, a pair of rockable female die members carried by said head, a horizontally disposed, yielding work support arranged substantially flush witl'i the top edge of said male diev member and adapted to hold the work against said female die members,` arms attached to said female die members. anda stationary device that co-operates with said arms to rock` said female die members when said head recipro- Cates.

7. A metal bending machine, comprising a reciprocating head, .a stationary base, a

male die member carried by one of said elements, a pair of rockable female die members carriedv by the other element, yieldingly supported work engaging devices arranged longitudinally of said male die member at opposite sides of said male die element and adapted to hold the work against the ends of said female die member, arms at? tached to said femaledie members and provided with rollers, a wedge or cam arranged to pass between said rollers and thus cause c said female die members to rock when the head reciprocates, and a means for separating said female die members or moving them outwardly.

8. A metal bending a reciprocating head, a stationary base, 'a pair of rockable female die members carried by one of said elements, a horizontallyedis? posed, yielding work engaging ldevice that is adapted to engage a flat plate and cause it to be held in sliding frict'ienal engagement with the ends of said female die members when said members are functioning, a means that co-operates with said female die members to produce -an initieliongitudinal fold in the plate after the ends of said female die members have'engaged the plate, and means for causing said female die members to rockin a direction to complete the fold in the plate so as .to prodncea longitudinal corrugation on the plate,` when, said head reciprocates.

9. A metal bending machine,7comprising machine,- comprising llU an internal mandrel, means for folding or bending an intermediate portion of a plate over said mandrel so as to form a corrugation on the plate which terminates within the marginal edges of the plate, means for causing portions of said plate to be disposed so as to form end closures for the corrugation, and means for holding the end sections of t-he plate, lying beyond the ends of the eorrugations in a flat condition during the operation of bending the plate. c

l0. Ei metal bending machine adapted to operate on a plate having longitudinallyaligned notches, means for bending or folding the intermediate portion of the'plate lying between said notches so as to produce a corrugation on the .plate and also cause portions at the inner ends of said notches to be arranged in position to form end closures for the corrugation, and pressing devices that actA on the portions ofthe plate located beyond the ends of the corrugations vfor imparting the final shape to saidrparts during the corrugating operation.

1l. A metal bending machine, adapted to operate on a metal plate provided with longitudinally-aligned end notches that have angularly-disposed portions at their inner ends, means for folding or bending the intermediate portion of the plate lying betweenl said notches and causing the end sections of the plate and also the angularly-disposed portions at the inner ends of said notches to move into abutting relationship, and press'- ing devices that act on said angularly-dis-i posedportions and abutting end sections during the corrugating operation` f 12. A metal bending machine, comprising a reciprocating head, a stationary base, rockable female die members carried by one of said elements and provided at their ends with pressing devices for the purpose'de-- scribed, a male die member carriedA by the other element, yieldingly supported work engaging devices arranged longitudinally of said male die member at oppositepsides of said male die vmember and adapted to hold the work pressed tightly against the ends of Y said female die members during a portion of the stroke of said head, means for rocking said female die-members inwardly during into a for preventing the end sections of the plate lying between said notches vfrom wrinkling during the opra'tion of forming said corrugation ,y

\ vlet. A machine that is adapted to be used 1t-o'progressively form parallel corrugations or rribs on a metal plate, said machine comprising a yielding, horizontally-disposed Werl; support that is adapted to receive a flat metal plateprovided inv'opposed edges with longitudinally--aligned notches, a male die member ofless length than the width of the plate that is adapted to serve as a mandrel over which said plate is bent or folded, ioclrable female die members arranged in parallel relation with said male die member kat opposite sides ofsame, means for producing relative vertical movement between said' male die member and female die members and k for causing said female die members to frictionally clamp thek plateagainst said Awork support and also swing inwardly towards said male die member, thereby bending the intermediate portion of the plate lying between a pair of notches into a corrugation and also causing the endsections ofthe plate to move into abutting relationsnp. ,Y

15. A machine of the kind described in claim' 14, in which the female die members have portions that cause integralV partsof the plate located at the ends ofthe sidewalls of the corrugation to be formed into symn rmetrical end closuresVv for the corrugation.

' JAMES J. MULLEN.

'refiners M. sTAMBAUeI-I.l 

